CLIFFORD, J.
[¶1] Joseph P. Feeney appeals from a judgment of the Superior Court
(Cumberland County, Saufley, J.) in favor of defendant Hanover Insurance Co.
Feeney contends that the court erred in interpreting the uninsured vehicle
statute and in concluding that Hanover's policy provided no
uninsured/underinsured motor vehicle coverage for Feeney's claim. Finding
no error, we affirm the judgment.
[¶2] Feeney drank alcohol with friends and acquaintances at various
places on Peaks Island throughout the afternoon and evening of April 26,
1993, and spent much of the evening at Jones Landing, a local restaurant.
Toward midnight Feeney left the Landing with four acquaintances: Molly
Mellen, who was a bartender at Jones Landing, Jack Gray, Michael Zamek,
and John Carpenter. Feeney could walk and talk but was extremely
intoxicated; all but Mellen had been drinking. The group left in Carpenter's
flatbed truck, with Carpenter ultimately intending to drop Feeney off at his
house on the outside shore of the island. En route, the group stopped at a
coastal rock outcrop known as the Whale Back for about an hour. Sitting 15
to 25 feet in front of the parked truck, Carpenter talked with Gray about
Carpenter's marital problems. Carpenter had had four to six beers at the
Landing, and consumed two or three more at the Whale Back. Feeney got off
the bed of the truck and got into the cab, where he fell asleep or passed out.
Mellen and Zamek talked near the truck, and each consumed a beer. Zamek
noticed Feeney and decided to "go roust him" by opening the passenger
door against which Feeney was leaning. When Zamek opened the door,
Feeney fell out and landed head first on a large rock.
[¶3] Carpenter, sitting alone some distance from the truck,
apparently did not see the incident. Mellen and Gray helped Feeney, who
was conscious and swearing at Zamek, into the truck.{2} Feeney stated that
he wanted to ride in the back, so he got out, on his own, and climbed into
the bed of the truck. The group drove to Mellen's house with Gray holding
Feeney with one arm. At Mellen's house Feeney did not get out of the truck;
Mellen had to go back and convince him to come in out of the cold, and she
helped him walk into the house. Mellen helped Feeney remove his wind
breaker and sneakers, and put him in a bed. The next morning she heard
him calling her name and saying that he could not move. When she went
into his room he was paralyzed and in obvious pain. She called the police,
and he was transported to Maine Medical Center, where he remained
paralyzed for several days.
[¶4] Feeney suffered a fractured neck requiring significant medical
intervention, the cost for which the parties stipulate exceeds $100,000, the
limit on the uninsured motorists clause of the Hanover policy held by
Feeney's father and under which Feeney was an insured. Because Zamek
had no motor vehicle liability insurance at the time of the incident and
Carpenter had coverage of only $20,000, Carpenter's vehicle was
underinsured pursuant to the uninsured vehicle statute.{3} Feeney asserted a
claim against Hanover under the uninsured motorists coverage clause of the
policy, alleging that both Zamek and Carpenter were tortfeasors who had
caused his injury.
[¶5] As to the allegations implicating Zamek, the court rejected
Feeney's theory that he was legally entitled to recover from Zamek as an
operator of Carpenter's underinsured vehicle and granted a partial summary
judgment to Hanover.
[¶6] As to Hanover's liability to Feeney arising from Carpenter's
conduct, the court concluded there were material facts in dispute, and
denied a summary judgment. The court heard the case and decided it
following a non-jury trial. The parties stipulated that the sole issues before
the court were the nature and extent of the duty owed by Carpenter to
Feeney, whether there was a breach of that duty, and whether any such
breach resulted in Hanover's liability to Feeney pursuant to its
uninsured/underinsured motor vehicle policy. The court concluded that by
volunteering to take Feeney home, Carpenter assumed a duty to conduct
himself in a reasonable manner toward Feeney. It found, however, that
Feeney failed to prove that Carpenter breached that duty. Accordingly,
because Feeney was not legally entitled to recover for his injuries from
Carpenter as the owner or operator of the underinsured vehicle, the
uninsured/underinsured provisions of Hanover's policy were not implicated,
and judgment was entered for Hanover. This appeal by Feeney followed.

I.

[¶7] Feeney contends that the court erred in granting a partial
summary judgment to Hanover based on Zamek's conduct. He argues that
Zamek was an operator of Carpenter's truck when he caused Feeney's injury,
and because Feeney is legally entitled to recover from Zamek for his injuries,
Feeney's damages are covered by the uninsured motorist clause of the
Hanover policy.{4} Feeney thus alleges that Zamek qualified as an "operator"
of the truck pursuant to the uninsured vehicle statute,{5} by virtue of opening
the door against which Feeney was leaning. We disagree.
[¶8] An automobile insurance policy "is presumed to incorporate all
relevant mandatory provisions of the statutes under which it was made."
Wescott v. Allstate Ins., 397 A.2d 156, 166 (Me. 1979) (construing 24-A
M.R.S.A. § 2902). Thus the Hanover policy insuring Feeney must be
interpreted consistently with the uninsured vehicle coverage provisions
found in 24-A M.R.S.A. § 2902 (1990).
[¶9] In construing the uninsured motor vehicle statute, we are
guided by the rule that the "fundamental rule in statutory construction is
that words must be given their plain meaning." McGillivray v. Royal Ins. Co.,
675 A.2d 524, 526 (Me. 1996) (refusing to construe "party's" in § 2902 as
pertaining to multiple parties). Feeney would have us interpret the words
"operate" and "use" in § 2902(1) as synonymous and thus broadly inclusive
of such acts as Zamek's opening the truck door. Section 2902(1), however,
is triggered only when the insured (in this case Feeney) is legally entitled to
recover damages from owners or operators of underinsured vehicles.
Because Zamek did not own the truck, Hanover would be liable to Feeney
only if Zamek could be deemed an operator.
[¶10] Contrary to Feeney's contention, the definitional section of the
motor vehicle statute, 29-A M.R.S.A. §101, does not support the conclusion
that Feeney operated the vehicle:

(48) Operator. "Operator" means an individual who drives or is
in control of a vehicle or who is exercising control over or
steering a towed vehicle.

We cannot accept Feeney's conclusory assertion that although Zamek was
not free to drive Carpenter's vehicle, he was in control of the vehicle in its
parked state, because Carpenter had "temporarily surrendered control of
the vehicle while he sat some twenty feet away." There is no evidence in the
record of this purported surrender, nor any evidence that Zamek was trying
to reach the controls of the vehicle; he merely opened the passenger door
from the outside. Because Zamek's purported use of the truck did not
constitute operation, he was not an operator, and summary judgment was
correctly entered on Feeney's claim of coverage based on his entitlement to
recover from Zamek.

II.

[¶11] Unlike Zamek, Carpenter held title to the truck and is
indisputably an "owner or operator" for purposes of the policy and the
uninsured vehicle statute. If Carpenter in fact breached a duty of care to
Feeney, by the terms of the policy Hanover would owe Feeney, as its
insured, compensation for injury arising out of Carpenter's ownership or
operation. The court concluded, based on the legal duty that arises when
one takes charge of another who is helpless,{6} that once Carpenter agreed to
take the visibly intoxicated Feeney home, he had a duty to conform to the
legal standard of reasonable conduct in light of the apparent risk.{7} Feeney
failed to persuade the court, however, that Carpenter did not act reasonably
or exercise ordinary care.
[¶12] Whether a party has breached a duty of care to another is a
question of fact. See Welch v. McCarthy, 677 A.2d 1066, 1069 (Me. 1996).
The court's findings reflect the lack of evidence showing Carpenter's
behavior to be unreasonable.{8} Feeney offers only the single conclusory
statement that Carpenter left "the helpless Feeney in the truck under the
care of a seriously impaired co-passenger [Zamek]." Feeney falls far short of
showing that the court was compelled to find that Carpenter breached any
duty to Feeney. See Dawson v. Lussier, 632 A.2d 128, 129 (Me. 1993) ("A
trial court's finding that a party failed to carry his or her burden of proof on
a factual issue will be reversed on appeal only if the nature of the evidence is
such that the factfinder would be compelled to believe it.") (citing Gonthier
v. Horne, 576 A.2d 745 (Me. 1990)).
[¶13] All of Feeney's theories of liability as to Carpenter require
either that Carpenter knew or had reason to know of the necessity and
opportunity to control Zamek,{9} or that Carpenter permitted Zamek to
operate the vehicle.{10} The Superior Court's well-supported finding that
Zamek's unexpected and unusual action was not something that Carpenter
could or should have reasonably foreseen, and its conclusion that Feeney
presented no facts in support of any claim that Zamek had permission from
Carpenter to operate the truck, were not erroneous.
The entry is:
Judgment affirmed.
Attorney for plaintiff:
Joseph L. Bornstein, Esq., (orally)
P O Box 4686
Portland, ME 04112
Attorney for defendant:
James D. Poliquin, Esq., (orally)
Norman, Hanson & DeTroy
P O Box 4600
Portland, ME 04112-4600

FOOTNOTES******************************** {1} Feeney's first complaint named
John Carpenter and P.D.J.L., Inc. (d/b/a Jones Landing) as defendants. P.D.J.L.
filed a petition for liquidation in the Bankruptcy Court, and no claim was
stated against it in the amended complaint, which added Michael Zamek and
Hanover Insurance as defendants. By later agreement of the parties, claims
against Carpenter and Zamek were dismissed with prejudice pursuant to M.R.
Civ. P. 41(a). Hanover is thus the remaining defendant. {2} Gray had "babysat"
for Feeney on other occasions, for example carrying him home after finding
him passed out in a snow bank. {3} See infra note 5. {4} The policy provided
uninsured motorist coverage of $100,000 per person per accident. Part C(1)
of the policy provided: We will pay compensatory damages which an "insured"
is legally entitled to recover from the owner or operator of an "uninsured
motor vehicle" because of "bodily injury:" 1. Sustained by
an "insured;" and 2. Caused by an accident. The owner's or operator's
liability for these damages must arise out of the ownership, maintenance
or use of the "uninsured motor vehicle." (emphasis added). {5}
Title 24-A M.R.S.A. § 2902(1) (1990) requires automobile insurance
policies to cover uninsured and underinsured vehicles, providing in pertinent
part: 2902. Uninsured vehicle coverage; insolvency of insurer 1. No policy
insuring against liability arising out of the ownership, maintenance or
use of any motor vehicle shall be delivered or issued for delivery in this
State with respect to any such vehicle registered or principally garaged
in this State, unless coverage is provided therein or supplemental thereto
for the protection of persons insured thereunder who are legally entitled
to recover damages from owners or operators of uninsured, underinsured or
hit- and-run motor vehicles, for bodily injury, sickness or disease, including
death, resulting from the ownership, maintenance or use of such uninsured,
underinsured or hit-and-run motor vehicle. The coverage herein required
may be referred to as "uninsured vehicle coverage." For the purposes
of this section, "underinsured motor vehicle" means a motor vehicle
for which coverage is provided, but in amounts less than the minimum limits
for bodily injury liability insurance provided for under the motorist's
financial responsibility laws of this State or less than the limits of the
injured party's uninsured vehicle coverage. (emphasis added). Although the
term "uninsured motorists" is used by the policy and in some of
our decisions, see, e.g., Connolly v. Royal Globe Ins. Co., 455 A.2d 932,
935 (Me. 1983), strictly speaking the statutory point of reference is the
insurance status of the vehicle. See 24-A M.R.S.A. § 2902(1). Thus,
because Carpenter's coverage was less than the limits of the uninsured motorist
policy held by Feeney's father, the vehicle was underinsured. Cf. McGillivray
v. Royal Ins. Co., 675 A.2d 524 (Me. 1996) (relevant comparison was between
amount of liability coverage and amount of underinsured coverage on vehicle).
{6} The Restatement (Second) of Torts § 324 (1965) provides: §
324 Duty of One Who Takes Charge of Another Who is Helpless One who, being
under no duty to do so, takes charge of another who is helpless adequately
to aid or protect himself is subject to liability to the other for any bodily
harm caused to him by (a) the failure of the actor to exercise reasonable
care to secure the safety of the other while within the actor's charge,
or (b) the actor's discontinuing his aid or protection, if by so doing he
leaves the other in a worse position than when the actor took charge of
him. {7} Because we conclude that the court was not compelled to find that
Carpenter breached a duty to Feeney, we do not address Hanover's contention
that the court erred in concluding that Carpenter owed a duty to Feeney.
{8} The Superior Court concluded: At the time Zamek opened the cab door
and allowed Feeney to fall out, Carpenter was not operating the vehicle.
He was not present at the truck. He did not see Zamek approach or open the
door. He did not hear Zamek threaten or comment about opening the door.
When he left Feeney at the truck, he was aware of Feeney's state of serious
intoxication. He described Feeney as "just about passed out" on
the trip to Whaleback. His responsibility was to assure that Feeney would
be safe. Carpenter left Feeney with or near Zamek and Mellen when he went
to sit on the rocks. Mellen was sober. Zamek was likely intoxicated. Feeney
was in no danger or risk that was apparent to Carpenter, or would have been
apparent to a reasonable person, when Carpenter and Gray walked off to talk.
There is no credible evidence in the record before this court that Carpenter
should have been aware that Zamek or any other person presented a risk to
Feeney. There is no credible evidence of any unpleasant history between
Zamek and Feeney or of any prior occasion on which any of the individuals
present, including Zamek, had opened a cab door as a joke or otherwise,
when someone was leaning on the door. In fact, the evidence is to the contrary.
Feeney was known to be a person who was regularly intoxicated to the point
of needing assistance from others. Mellen and Gray had provided that help
on prior occasions. Nothing new occurred on the trip to Whaleback which
should have alerted Carpenter to any risk to Feeney. . . . This court finds
that Zamek's unusual and unanticipated action was not within the realm of
risks that would or should have been apparent to Carpenter. Based on evidence
in the record, the court also noted that Carpenter did not leave Feeney
in any worse position than when he found him at the bar. {9} Feeney intimates
that the court erred by refusing to find that Carpenter permitted a third
party to use his truck, thereby imposing on Carpenter a duty of care to
control the conduct of its user, Zamek. Feeney bases his argument on the
Restatement (Second) of Torts § 318 (1965) (Duty of Possessor of Land
or Chattels to Control Conduct of Licensee). He also cites section 302 of
the Restatement (Second) of Torts (1965) (Risk of Direct or Indirect Harm).
There is no evidence in the record, however, to compel a conclusion contrary
to the court's specific factual findings that "Carpenter gave Zamek
no permission to use his truck in his absence" and that "Zamek's
unusual and unanticipated action was not within the realm of risks that
would or should have been apparent to Carpenter." Carpenter likewise
did not breach a duty to Feeney as a guest passenger, because the facts
do not compel a conclusion that Carpenter did not act as "a person
of ordinary intelligence and reasonable prudence and judgment[] ordinarily
exercises under like or similar circumstances." Beaulieu v. Beaulieu,
265 A.2d 610, 612 (Me. 1970) (discussing the host- operator's duty of care).
Contrary to Feeney's suggestion that the reasonable and prudent course of
action would have been for Carpenter to drive Feeney home immediately after
leaving the bar rather than "in the care of a seriously impaired co-passenger,"
Feeney was with a group of friends who had taken care of him on numerous
instances when he was drunk. {10} Feeney argues that Carpenter was negligent
in allowing an intoxicated person to operate the vehicle. Statutory liability
is inapplicable, because Zamek was neither an operator of the vehicle nor
in control of it. See 29-A M.R.S.A. § 1653(1) (1996) (imposing liability
on owner who gives intoxicated operator control of vehicle). Feeney's common
law theory of negligent entrustment similarly founders on the factual finding
that Carpenter did not surrender control and on the lack of evidence showing
that Zamek operated the vehicle.